The Rate of Miscarriage

Some years ago a biology professor told me that about four out of five pregnancies result in miscarriage, usually before the woman even knows she's pregnant. He said this fact was discovered when they first started in vitro fertilization. It had a huge failure rate. On further investigation they found that was the norm in nature as while.

I had not heard of this before or since. A little research seems to back my professor.

So my question is: Why doesn't this come up in abortion debates?

It would seem to turn the anti-abortion crowds' argument on it's head, at least for the sort who believe legal status should be confered on a fertilized egg.

Replies to This Discussion

I think the rate of miscarriages is irrelavent if a zygote is considered a person. Spontaneous abortion counts as manslaughter if so. Though it would probably make some people think about passing such laws if there is a 4 in 5 chance of doing time if a woman get's pregnant.

I've used it in debates. People who say that a fertilized egg will naturally develop into a child if left up to nature are sadly mistaken. I've yet to hear an intelligent response when I point out the fact that statistically speaking, the natural course of pregnancy is miscarriage.
Let me know if you ever get a rebuttal.

So it's ok that God/Nature/The Force is the biggest abortionist on the planet...but if a women wants to make the decision for herself, it's suddenly murder?
And this is why there is no point having a debate with the crazy people!

Right, then if god(s) is responsible for all things, surely one guy in a medical clinic cannot disrupt the will of the almighty? I mean, maybe god-works-in-mysterious-ways applies to an abortion center?

I had heard this statistic before, but not fully realized the implications that it holds for the anti-abortion argument. Thank you, I will probably incoporate it into my Ethics term paper (arguing for abortion). Very good food for thought.